KVH Expands mini-VSAT Broadband Network Capacity in Key Areas of Global Maritime Activity
10 March 2015 - 1:31AM
KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI) has completed several capacity
increases for its mini-VSAT Broadbandsm network to support
heightened demand from customers engaged in a wide range of
commercial maritime activities around the world, including offshore
oil and gas, fishing, and shipping. Utilizing 17 satellites and 24
transponders to provide global coverage, KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband
is the most extensive C/Ku-band maritime VSAT network in the world,
and is designed for rapid expansion by accessing abundant
commercial satellite capacity. Working with leading commercial
satellite providers, KVH implemented the recent capacity expansions
to meet the ever-growing demand for broadband services at sea. "The
commercial maritime industry is increasingly reliant on broadband
services to improve operational efficiency," says Martin Kits van
Heyningen, KVH chief executive officer. "Data and connectivity
enable ship owners to accomplish many goals, from reduced fuel
consumption through voyage planning to increased safety through
updated training programs delivered to crew while they are onboard.
We are continually monitoring and improving the mini-VSAT Broadband
network to ensure our maritime customers have the critical
connectivity they need at all times onboard their vessels."
KVH's recent capacity expansions for the mini-VSAT Broadband
network include:
- Asia-Pacific: The capacity of a key satellite beam for the
Asia-Pacific region was increased 60%, providing support for
commercial shipping and offshore oil and gas activities in the
area.
- Pacific Northwest: A new beam covering the Pacific Northwest
was added, providing support for the many commercial fishing fleets
located in this area.
- Eastern Canada and U.S. coast: A new beam was added to more
than double the network capacity for the eastern coast of Canada
and the United States, a key area for commercial shipping, fishing,
and yacht chartering.
KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband network is the dominant player in the
global maritime VSAT market, with twice the market share of its
closest competitor, according to recent industry reports by Comsys
and Euroconsult. KVH and its technology partner, ViaSat, Inc.,
(Nasdaq:VSAT) use ArcLight® spread spectrum technology to deliver
fast broadband service, with Internet download speeds up to 4 Mbps.
With its enterprise-grade infrastructure, the mini-VSAT Broadband
network carried 500 TB of data and 25 million voice minutes in
2014. KVH has built this global infrastructure by leasing available
commercial satellite capacity, rather than investing in its own
satellites. The results are lower costs and better prices for
customers. Designed exclusively for the mini-VSAT Broadband
network, KVH's unique TracPhone® V-IP satellite communications
antenna systems are built 85% smaller than typical VSAT antennas to
install more easily in all vessels. Antenna sizes range from the 37
cm (14.5 inch) diameter TracPhone V3-IP, to the 60 cm (24 inch)
diameter TracPhone V7-IP, and the 1.1 meter (42.5 inch) diameter
TracPhone V11-IP. The company recently shipped its 5,000th
TracPhone system for the mini-VSAT Broadband service. The capacity
expansions also support KVH's IP-MobileCastTM content delivery
service. This multicasting service uses the mini-VSAT Broadband
network to deliver a separate data stream of news, sports,
entertainment, and training content – improving quality of life for
crew members onboard commercial vessels – as well as operational
data such as electronic chart updates and weather
information. Note to Editors: For more information about the
mini-VSAT Broadband service, please visit KVH's website,
www.minivsat.com/vip. High-resolution images of KVH products are
available at the KVH Press Room Image Library,
www.kvh.com/press-room/image-library.
About KVH Industries, Inc.
KVH Industries is a leading provider of in-motion satellite TV
and communications systems, having designed, manufactured, and sold
more than 175,000 mobile satellite antennas for applications on
vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. KVH is also a leading news, music,
and entertainment content provider to many industries including
maritime, retail, and leisure. VideotelTM, a KVH company, is a
leading provider of maritime training. KVH is based in Middletown,
RI, with research, development, and manufacturing operations in
Middletown, RI, and Tinley Park, IL. The company's global presence
includes offices in Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Hong Kong,
Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and the United
Kingdom.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. For example, forward-looking
statements include statements regarding the timing and occurrence
of new service rollout plans, the functionality, characteristics,
quality, and performance of KVH services and technology; and
customer demand, preferences, requirements, and expectations. The
actual results we achieve could differ materially from the
statements made in this press release. Factors that might cause
these differences include, but are not limited to: potential
unanticipated technical or legal impediments that could delay or
impede new service rollout plans or expected strategic
relationships; the need to increase sales of the TracPhone V-IP
series products and related services to improve airtime gross
margins; the impact of extended economic weakness on the sale and
use of marine vessels, particularly in Europe and Asia; the need
for, or delays in, qualification of products to customer or
regulatory standards; unanticipated declines or changes in customer
demand, due to competitive, economic, seasonal, and other factors,
particularly with respect to the TracPhone V-IP series products and
the mini-VSAT Broadband service; KVH's dependence on the
availability of third-party satellites and services to support
transmissions to mobile antennas; unanticipated expenses associated
with the launch of the IP-MobileCast service; and unanticipated
increase in media costs or loss of distribution rights. These and
other factors are discussed in more detail in our most recent
quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. We do not assume
any obligation to update our forward-looking statements to reflect
new information and developments.
KVH, TracPhone, IP-MobileCast, and Videotel are trademarks of
KVH Industries, Inc. mini-VSAT Broadband is a service mark of KVH
Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective companies.
CONTACT: Jill Connors
Media & Communications Manager
KVH Industries, Inc.
401-851-3824
jconnors@kvh.com
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